Apparatus for glass manufacture



2 Sheet sF-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. E. PPEIFPER. APPARATUS FOR GLASS MANUFACTURE.

Patented July 3, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. E. PPEIFFBR. APPARATUS FOR GLASSMANUFACTURE. No. 2 0,397.

Patented July 3, 188 3.

ms QM if U ITED STAT S PATENT ()FFICE;

LOUIS E. PFEIFFER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR GLASS MANUFACTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,397, dated July 3,1883.

Application filed November 7. 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS E. PFEIFFER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inApparatus for Glass Manufacture, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to glass manufacture; and it consists inproviding mechanical means adapted to a glass-furnace to blow up theglass, the said means producing blasts of air, eitherhot, warm, or cold,and directing the same into suitable channels under the control of theoperators, and in details of construction, all of which are fully setforth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide suitable mechanical means totake the place of manual labor in glass-blowing-a class of work which ismost injurious to the health of the operators.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improvedglass-blowing apparatus attached to a glass-furnace. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the blow-tube and its connections with the airtubes or pipes, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form ofblowtube.

A is a glass-furnace of the ordinary con struction, and in which B arethe usual aper-' tures or doors through which the glass-blowers rod orblow-tube is inserted to extract liquid glass from the crucibles. V

G is a circular or bustle pipe, and is adapted to act as a reservoir forthe air forced therein by blower E through pipe D. This pipe D may enterdirectly into reservoir), or, if desired, it may pass first through thefurnace, as shown at D, to heat the air. The reservoir 0 is furtherprovided with a regulator-valve, C, to govern the pressure of the air,but I do not consider that. its use is absolutely necessary.

Projecting down from reservoir 0, in front of each door B, are tubes F,to which are secured flexible tubes G, or metal pipes with universaljoints at top.

To the lower end of tube G is secured a nozzle, I, provided with avalve,H. The lower part, I, of said nozzle is made tubular and incloses aflexible tube, I which is pressed inwardly by springs z, the whole beingretained in place by cap J, provided with lugs J against whichthespring-catches L, attached to the blow pipe or tube K, catch toretain the end or mouth of said blow-tube in the spring-nozzle. The endof the blow-tube which is inserted in the nozzle may be somewhat pointedto allow ready insertion, and its body may be separated by the insertionof a non-conducting me di um, Kf, so as to prevent the part which entersthe nozzle from being overheated.

The operation is as follows: The fan orblower being in motion, air,either cold or hot, is forced into the reservoir or main, where it isretained, any excess of pressure being liberated by the regulator. Theblow-tube is then inserted into the glass pot or crucible, and aftersufficient glass is caught upon the end it is removed, and the other endinserted in the flexible or spring nozzle and locked there. The tube maybe moved about as desired. Air is then let into the tube by valve H, itsquantity or pressure being controlled by the operator.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it may bemodified in various ways without departing from my invention.

If desired, the nozzle end of the blow-tube may be made of anoirconducting material as glassin place of at K, a short distance be-.low, as in this case one only joint would be required.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In glassblowing apparatus, the combination of a glass-blowers tubewith mechanical means to create a current of warm air under pressurethrough said tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In glass-blowing apparatus, the combination ofa glass-blowers tubewith mechanical means to force air under pressure through said tube, andmeans to automatically control the pressure of said air, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

3. In glass-blowing apparatus, the combination of a glass-blowers tubewith mechanical means to force air under pressure through said tube,means to heat the air, and a valve to control the quantityfof airallowed to escape through said blow-tube, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. In glass-blowing apparatus, the combination of an air-blower, anair-main, a safetyvalve in said main, glass-blowers tubes, and flexibletubes connecting said main with said blow-tubes, substantially as andfor the pur- 5 pose specified.

' 5. In glassblowing apparatus, the combination of an air-blower, anair-main, a safetyvalve in said main, glass-blowers tubes, flexibletubes or pipes connecting said main With IO said blow-tubes, a nozzle todetachably receive the end of the said blow-tubes, and means to regulateand control the passage of air through said tubes, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

I 5 6. The combination of an air-main with a flexible pipe leadingtherefrom, a nozzle upon the end of said pipe, a glass-blowers tubeadapted to fit into said nozzle, and a catch to hold'said nozzle andblow-tube together, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 2o

7. The combination of air-pipe G,valv e H, nozzle 1, provide'd withflexible tube 1 and springs t, with blow-tube K, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

8. A glass-blowers tube made of metal, and 2 5 provided with a top partmade of a nonconductor to heat, substantially as set forth. I

ln testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS PFETFFER.

Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, JOHN XV. STE\VARD.

